Council commits to five year funding for ‘magic’ art gallery in Torridge

Councillors in Torridge have agreed to renew a five year funding agreement with the Burton at Bideford art gallery and museum to the tune of nearly £900,000.

Described as a leading cultural venue in the south west, The Burton is one of only 12 National Portfolio Organisations in the region alongside the likes of the celebrated The Box in Plymouth and Newlyn Art Gallery in Cornwall.

It welcomed 162,000 visitors last year and since 2016 has been run as a ‘successful’ charity and arm’s length organisation of Torridge District Council.

The council has contributed to the running of the Burton through two previous funding agreements after it decided to remove it from its in-house responsibilities and give it ‘freedom to develop’.

At a TDC community and resources committee meeting on Monday (November 17), members agreed almost unanimously to support the arts venue with £179,000 annually for the next five years, up from the £140,000 it agreed in 2020.

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This represents a total investment of £895,000 and takes into consideration rising costs and interest rates and national insurance increases.

Prior to 2016 the venue was costing the council around £315,000 a year to run.

Councillors heard how the Burton hosted world-class exhibitions, collections showcasing the heritage of North Devon and was a community hub for creativity and well-being, allowing open access to all members of the community for free.

Since 2021 it has welcomed more than 750,000 people to the building, presented nearly 60 exhibitions, delivered more than 450 workshops, engaged with 3,700 school children and 6,000 families and introduced the popular free weekly drop-in group the Great Burton Sewing Bee.

There are plans to increase visits by the Burton Art Box, where art is taken out to communities and outreach workshops.

A shop, craft gallery and other entrepreneurial activity such as room hire and adult workshops had brought in income for the organisation but councillors heard it received the lowest Arts Council funding of the four North Devon National Portfolio Organisations and competition for funding from trusts and foundations was the hardest it had ever been.

The Burton was also restricted by space and only 30 per cent of the collections were on show at any one time, said director Harriet Cooper, who also cited staff capacity as another big challenge. There are currently 8.7 full time equivalent members of staff.

A feasibility study was due to be carried out into developing another building close to The Burton, the committee was told.

Despite the challenges the arts venue was ‘punching above its weight’, councillors heard.

In 2025-26 the Burton’s income including grants and income is expected to be £700,000, meaning for every £1 Torridge invested, the organisation is generating £4 more.

Ms Cooper said the contribution from the council of £179,000 per year was ‘the minimum’ needed to keep the organisation thriving.

READ NEXT: Bideford gallery and museum receives big grant boost from Arts Council England

Councillors agreed to review the amount after three years to decide whether an inflationary rise was appropriate.

Councillor Chris Leather said he thought there should be an entrance charge for the Burton.

He also said he didn’t believe all the charged-for courses for home schooled children delivered what they said they would, after the length of the sessions were reduced.

Cllr Lauren Bright said it was absolutely essential the Burton remained free to enter.

She said: “I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about that. I think families, whether they are on holiday or from Bideford, if it’s a rainy half term day they need to be able to feel they can walk into the entrance of that building and there is no barrier whatsoever to them going in and experiencing whatever is there.

“If a child’s art is displayed in a school exhibition they should be able to walk in with their grandchildren and say ‘wow, look at this’ without having to get a ticket and that is the magic of what that gallery offers.

“This not just a feel good thing, it does have an economic force behind and there can’t really be any reason why this committee should refuse this funding because of the economic output we get from it as well as the social and cultural value.”